Ohio State players, wearing headbands honoring outgoing head coach Earle Bruce, get fired up before their game at Michigan, which the Buckeyes won, 23-20.

(AP)

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 21 - Calling on all the talent, pride and emotion they possessed, the Ohio State Buckeyes put together a second-half performance yesterday that overwhelmed the University of Michigan.

An OSU defense that allowed nearly 300 yards in total offense during the first half held the Wolverines to 91 in the second.

An offense that seemed afraid of its own shadow in the first half played the second half seemingly afraid of no man or Wolverine.

Afterward, the coach fired in disgrace who inspired all this, Earle Bruce, called the 23-20 triumph a job well done.

"There is no sweeter victory in the world than a win over Michigan in your last game at Ohio State," Bruce said. "But the real thrill was coming back when you're down, 13-0, after the week we had."

The week began with his firing Monday by OSU President Edward H. Jennings. That led to unanswered questions of why and protests throughout the week in Bruce's behalf.

The still brewing turmoil came during Michigan week, the biggest game on OSU's schedule. Yet Bruce and his players overcame a shaky start in earning the victory.

It must be noted, however, that Jennings had a part in the victory. Kicker Matt Frantz said he talked to the president before the game. "He told me to tell everybody on the defense to think of his face if it would fire us up to beat Michigan," the senior said.

The Bucks, sporting headbands in support of their coach, sealed the victory with a 26-yard fourth-quarter field goal by Frantz.

That capped a 15-play, 77-yard drive that stopped at the Michigan 12. The Bucks could have gone for a first down on fourth-and-one, but Frantz was standing right beside Bruce when the decision had to be made.

It was sweet revenge for Frantz, who missed a 45-yarder that could have won the 83rd meeting of this rivalry last season.

Quarterback Tom Tupa was another senior who played with extra gusto. The Brecksville native tossed his body around with reckless abandon, rushing for 24 hard-earned yards and passing the best he has all season under pressure.

He finished the day hitting 18 of 26 attempts for 219 yards and two touchdown passes that turned the game in OSU's favor. He ran for one TD.

The OSU defense held the Wolverines on three downs at the start of the second half. It was a major accomplishment because Michigan marched at will behind Jamie Morris' 113 yards before intermission.

The Bucks' much-maligned, ridiculed offense took over after that defensive stand and gave a hint of what was to come. Tupa tossed a short pass toward fumble-prone freshman Carlos Snow, who turned it into a long touchdown.

"Coach said, 'Keep your head up, you'll win it for us," Snow said of his early fumbles. "I couldn't believe he said that to me, but he did."

Snow turned that short pass into a 70-yard touchdown run on a play identical to the one against Minnesota that ended a four-TD day for the Cincinnati freshman.

"Yes it was, 74 X-comeback," Snow said. "He just threw it out there, and there I was, all alone. I was just hoping Everett (Ross) would turn around and block off the man that had the angle on me."

Ross did the job and Snow did his, then Frantz connected on his 52nd straight conversion to give Ohio State the lead.

After the game, bedlam erupted on the field and in the Ohio State locker room. Fans cheered for Bruce to make an encore appearance on the field, while inside the players were saying their goodbyes.

To the end, Bruce and most of his players pledged allegiance to the university they felt jilted them.

"I think this team is most certainly made of the right stuff," Bruce said. "This is one for the Buckeyes; God bless them. I love them."

Said offensive tackle Joe Staysniak, who came up with the idea to wear the headbands. "We just had to win this one.

"We looked bad in the first half. But we realized we had to settle down. We didn't have much time left."

They had enough time, and assistance as well. The Wolverines missed several chances to destroy the Buckeyes, but among the miscues were two dropped passes by Westlake's John Kolesar.

The junior flanker muffed a sure touchdown in the end zone just before the first half ended. He fumbled another potential score on the first offensive play after the Bucks' go-ahead score.

Snow fumbled late in the third quarter, leading to Michigan's tying touchdown. But the Buckeyes sniffed victory and marched 77 yards to get it to Frantz's kick.

As usual, the player who stood out defensively was All-America Chris Spielman. He finished the day with 16 tackles, an amazing 14 of them unassisted, including a sack.

Throughout the week, Spielman had been silent, honoring Bruce's wishes that the team concentrate on beating Michigan. But after the victory, he had his say.

Spielman alluded to "decisions from above" that said OSU would not accept a bowl bid even if it beat Michigan. He was upset the annual football banquet scheduled for tomorrow was canceled. But, most of all, he was upset about the loss of his coach.

"That was satisfaction, seeing how happy he was," Spielman said. "We can all look in the mirror and walk out of here proud.

"For a man to go through what he went through this week, to hold his composure, is the sign of a true man, a true Buckeye," Spielman said.

"He may not have all the charisma. He may not have all the personality. But there is no better football coach in America."

The record shows Bruce and the Buckeyes ended the season 6-4-1, while Bruce ended his OSU career at 81-26-1.

He leaves as the first Ohio State coach since John Wilce in 1928 to beat Michigan in his final season at the helm.

There was more than one sentiment from the players about Bruce possibly returning. "The situation isn't over yet," Staysniak said.

But Bruce, who has filed suit against the university and Jennings for more than $7 million, pretty much squelched that idea.